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M&A

What can happen to stock grants in corporate mergers, acquisitions, spinoffs, and divestitures?

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Find easily understandable explanations of key terms and concepts in Basics. Learn what an M&A deal may mean for your grants in the subsection Impact. Then move on to a comprehensive range of content explaining the tax treatment of stock compensation in M&A.

Selected Articles

Podcast included! When a company is merging or being acquired, many employees are left wondering what will happen to their unvested RSUs. While the outcomes for holders of unvested RSUs and current equity holders will depend on the terms of the M&A deal, if your company is being acquired there are a few things you should know about your restricted stock units and what may happen.

Your company is being acquired. You worry about losing your job and your valuable stock options. In Part 1 we looked at the importance of your option grant terms. Part 2 examines the acquisition's terms and the valuation of your company.

The terms of your option grants, the terms of the M&A deal, and the valuation of your company's stock all affect the treatment of stock options in M&A. What happens to your unvested options is the main focus of concern.

Employees in startup companies often have misconceptions about their stock options and restricted stock. Understand what could happen to your stock options or restricted stock in venture capital financings, in an acquisition, or in an IPO. Part 1 looks at M&A deals; Part 2 analyzes IPOs.

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In a merger or acquisition (considered a change in control), there are many possibilities. Study the terms of the stock plan and any individual grant agreements with special provisions, and examine the way the acquisition is structured. Some companies...

It must not be on file with the transfer agent that is handling the share transfer for stock option exercises, restricted stock/RSU vesting, or sales of company shares. To avoid federal withholding at the 28% rate...

The vesting of the grant will probably accelerate according to specifics in your stock plan or grant agreement. The grants will probably be cashed out. Depending on your level in the company and the length of your employment, you may receive a meaningful grant in your newly private company that will require you to...

This is simply a selection of the many FAQs in this section.Use the navigation to the left to explore all of the categories in this section.